Bombardier and Plan India Celebrate the first “Saksham” Youth

September 30, 2013Delhi
Transportation,
Press Release

Rail technology leader Bombardier Transportation and Plan India, a child centered community development organization, celebrated 175 Saksham Youth aged between 18 and 29. A total of 119 of the 175 young women and men who completed their skill development training under the Saksham program have gained employment in the retail and hospitality industry.

The Saksham program supports young adults, especially girls from disadvantaged families and communities, by providing them with essential life skills and market oriented vocational training to help these young people access employment. The courses provided under the program are Customer Relations and Sales; Retail; Hospitality; Debt Recovery; IT-Enabled Services and Personal Development.

Asif Mohammad, Director Implementation Programs, Plan India, said: “We are delighted that Bombardier has supported the first phase of Saksham in the resettlement colonies of New Delhi. Through this program, we ensure equitable access to vocational and life skills training for young girls and boys from underprivileged families.”

Harsh Dhingra, Chief Country Representative, Bombardier Transportation India, added: “The Saksham program is fully aligned with our strategic approach to act as a responsible corporate citizen in the communities where we operate, focusing on three main areas: Education, Environment and Entrepreneurship. Supporting educational projects like Saksham helps increase youth employability and therefore build strong communities. This is how we create value for both our business and society.”

Case study

Alka is a very enthusiastic and bright young woman living in the Mangolpuri area of West Delhi. She participated in the Saksham program and is presently working as a Fashion Assistant with a leading retail chain.

Alka said: “Saksham has given me a life which I could only dream of. In our society, girls are often not allowed to fulfill their dreams or pursue a professional career. Having completed the Saksham program, I found a job allowing me to support my family and to continue my own studies. I never thought that I have so much potential, instead I was in fear of giving my dreams priority. Now my mother is so happy that I can support my family, not only emotionally but also financially, which was the need of the hour.”

About Plan India

Plan India is an Indian NGO and part of Plan International, one of the world's largest community development organizations. Plan India is working to improve the lives of disadvantaged children, their families and communities through an approach which puts children at the centre of community development. For over 30 years, Plan and our partners have worked with communities throughout India to break the cycle of poverty by helping children access their rights to protection, basic education, proper healthcare, a healthy environment, livelihood opportunities and participation in decisions which affect their lives. We encourage children to express their views and be actively involved in improving their communities. Plan India currently works in 11 states in India and has touched the lives of over a million Indian children.

About Bombardier

Bombardier is the world’s only manufacturer of both planes and trains. Looking far ahead while delivering today, Bombardier is evolving mobility worldwide by answering the call for more efficient, sustainable and enjoyable transportation everywhere. Our vehicles, services and, most of all, our employees are what make us a global leader in transportation.

Bombardier is headquartered in Montréal, Canada. Our shares are traded on the Toronto Stock Exchange (BBD) and we are listed on the Dow Jones Sustainability World and North America Indexes. In the fiscal year ended December 31, 2012, we posted revenues of $16.8 billion. News and information are available at bombardier.com or follow us on Twitter @Bombardier.